Is it that important to you???

[cordney]

This is just something I was thinking about:  Scenario:  Your a bass player but currently not playing at your church.  You love the fellowship at your current location...the atmosphere is outstanding. The word is being brought forth and everything; you don't want to leave this church.  Until a friend tells you that there bass player just left and they are looking for one. 

Would you stay or would you go?

[jeremyr]

it depends on how this "other" church conducted itself.

If it's full of a bunch of people that are serious about what they're doing I would just stay right where I'm at.

If there's a chance to really reach people through ministry and help the body of Christ Grow I'd be over there first thing in the AM waiting for the deacons to unlock the doors.

[superjaay]

I'm currently facing a similar situation. My church has started several sattellite worship centers to reach persons in other parts of the community. I love the main church where I have always worshipped, but I doubt anytime soon that I'll be playing bass there because the bassists there are so experienced. i have already been invited to play for three worship services at the sattellite location across town. I was really was blessed by the opportunity. The pastor is great and the worship experience is very powerful. Bottom line the MOM at the sattellite church wants me there every Sunday, but I have other committments at the main church (choir president, music council, etc) as well as my entire family is there. I still am passionate about my church and the worship and praise that is happening there, but I feel compelled to give God glory through the bass guitar at the new worship center.

[dremy2006]

i''ll stay..  i'm a Son of God B4 I'm a bass player.. and the word is commin forth...we dn't even have a band at my church......I sometimes.. play with my boi at his church... he's a drummer..

[arthur59]

This is what i'm going through,I love my home church the preching and teaching is very powerfull,the music department is tight,hower theirs no room for me.i;ve been a member their for three years and never had the opportunity to play.My family and I was invited to a coworkers church.The preaching was good and so was the music,however I notice there was no bass player (coworker didnot know I played bass).After service i spoke to the MOM,and he told me they were praying for bass player.I told him I'm not looking to join another church,just a place to mimister with my music.I will be @ practice thursday and will be their suunday with BASS IN HAND.

[mjl422]

For me it would depend on why I'm not playing at my current church and what the ministry is like at the church I was considering.  I couldn't play at a church where I wasn't being fed spiritually.  That would be my #1 priority.  If I loved my current church that much, it would be hard for me to go somewhere else just so that I could play.  I would probably find a group or community choir to play or something.

Of course, the first thing that I would do is pray and ask God for direction.

[BassbyGrace]

I stayed.  Not just because I was the keyboard player but I had no reason to leave and the Word and the ppl were great.  Im the MOM now and the choir has come along way, bless the Lord, but I wont deny that MANY a time over the last 2 yrs I thought about leaving.  I think because of my obedience, the Lord has blessed me with 2-3 other churches that call me when they need bass for a program (some paid).  A few of them even pay for my travel and meals when they go out the area.  The chapel where I am recently found a way to get me on a contract as well.  So chalk another one up for obedience being better than sacrifice.   Seek the Lord for HIS will and either way, you will be good to go.

[malthumb]

This is just something I was thinking about:  Scenario:  Your a bass player but currently not playing at your church.  You love the fellowship at your current location...the atmosphere is outstanding. The word is being brought forth and everything; you don't want to leave this church.  Until a friend tells you that there bass player just left and they are looking for one. 

Would you stay or would you go?

That's been my situation for a couple years now.  I have committed to play at one church 2, sometimes 3 Sundays a month and I attend my own church the rest of the time.  It started out with me playing most Sundays at both churches.  We'd play at 8:30 at my church, then the keyboard player and I would drive cross town to play at his church at 11:00.  When our pastor left to go back to NC, our 8:30 service ended.  The 11:00 service at my church is good on the word, but D-R-Y musically.  I still sing with the choir and with the Men's Chorus on the Sundays I'm there, but I also continue to play on pre-arranged Sundays at my keyboard player's church.

[jmain]

I kinda did the opposite.  I was playing regularly at a church and digging the music ministry, but the word was geared towards new seekers and I was wanting/needing more than milk toast.  (They are doing great work, but my family wasn't being fed.)  So we left and went to a church with so-so music and a bass player, but the preacher left (that was the reason we were there)so we starting looking again. 

Now we're at a church with a couple praise bands that rotate and one and two bassists for each band.  The music is kicking but the main thing is the word is tight!

I have an audition next Thursday.  Praise God!!

I'd pray on it and do what's right for you but most importantly your family.  Easier said than done I know! But He wouldn't give us the burning desire to do His work if He didn't intend for us to do it!  Right?!   Maybe God is working out a situation at your current church and you need to wait on Him.  Or, He is leading you AND your family to be a blessing at the other church.

[B3Wannabe]

I usually take that opportunity to play a different instrument. Keyboard is my main instrument, but if it's not open, I switch to something else (organ, bass, guitar, drums, tambourine).

[floaded27]

I usually take that opportunity to play a different instrument. Keyboard is my main instrument, but if it's not open, I switch to something else (organ, bass, guitar, drums, tambourine).

so we might see u on here one day asking for tambourine tabs? lol.



this is a tough call, seeing as my church went for many many many years without a bass player, until i started playing. i cant see myself sitting in service and not playing (when i visit other churches and the music is right i gotta fight the urge to play) unless i have a regular outlet to play. otherwise its like ur sitting on something God gave u and not putting it to use.

[malthumb]

this is a tough call, seeing as my church went for many many many years without a bass player, until i started playing. i cant see myself sitting in service and not playing (when i visit other churches and the music is right i gotta fight the urge to play) unless i have a regular outlet to play. otherwise its like ur sitting on something God gave u and not putting it to use.

EXACTLY!  That's why I leave the door open at my church to grow the music ministry to include a more contemporary music option.  Until that option is exercised, I continue to play at another church that is actively trying to grow that part of the ministry.

[betnich]

Opportunity or Temptation? Hmmm...I sometimes ask myself -

"Would I get my praise on as much if I were singing in the congregation instead of on the platform?"

If you want to try the new church, see if you can play for an evening or weeknight service first. And if possible sit in on a rehearsal or two to get an idea of the worship group's dynamics. Don't be afraid to ask others in the community what they have heard about that church, and ask the church's people and leadership a lot of questions, too...

(PS - We are looking for a volunteer Bass player for my church in Oxnard, CA...)

[kevmove02]

Interesting situation. Consider this: if you were not allowed to play bass ever again, would that affect where you fellowship? Think this is a crazy question? I know a very prominent worship leader that lost their voice and could not sing. Often we believe that they way we worship is the primary way we should worship. So ask yourself the question this way; are you interested in going to this other church just because you want to play bass or because you could worship GOD in a more fulfilling way?

or

Would you even have a doubt about what you would do if the "church" wasn't involved? Like what if the scenario was, "I'm in one band, but I don't get to play much, but another band has an opening. Should I take it?"

Just food for thought.

[csharp57]

I'm going through a situation where, not only am I "stuck" on the organ, but i'm the Pastor's son. So I would be leaving my position as organist, head musician and PK.....  I am often unhappy because another Sunday comes and goes and I can't play bass.

After sevice last week, a lady grabbed my hand and said that she can tell that I love the organ so much because I play with such passion. I just smiled and thought to myself, "If she only knew"....

I'm try not to be ungrateful for the blessings God has given me, but you should see me on the bass when keyboardist stops by!!!!  I'd even give up what the church is giving me to play the organ, (it ain't no chump change neither....) just to play the bass.

It feels like being married to a woman you're not in love with, only to finally run into the love of your life!!!!  LOL

[floaded27]

It feels like being married to a woman you're not in love with, only to finally run into the love of your life!!!!  LOL

U can just hear the old ladies gossipin "Chiiiiild, u heard that the pastor son be runnin around the church playin that organ" "I thought he was supposed to 'love' playin bass" "Hmmmm....u aint heard that from me" lol.

but it does feel that way. every time i play keys, i have fun with it, but the whole time im thinkin "i would tear this song up on the bass"

[malthumb]

I guess your thread invoked the spirit at my church.  I was SUPPOSED to be playing at "Church #2" this past Sunday, but Valerie, a former member of our 8:30 Service Praise Team, asked me to help her run the sound board for a special event she was doing at "Church #1".  Since she had stretched her comfort level on a number of things I needed when we had the praise team together, I could not refuse.  I made arrangements with Church #2 to swap Sundays this month.

After service, as Valerie and I were taking down the equipment and talking about how things went, a member who used to attend 8:30 asked if this meant we were going to put the praise team back together.  It had not occurred to either of us that since the 8:30 service went away Valerie & I were RARELY in the church at the same time.  The MOM happened to be walking by at the time, so I flagged her down, flagged down another former PT member, flagged down the drummer, and said to the MOM, "If these three and my wife are willing, AND if you (MOM) are willing to learn some of our songs on keys, we can bring back Voices of Praise and give Chancel a break every 4th Sunday".

She said, "Give me a CD of what you want me to learn.  If it's not too way out there I'll do it, PROVIDED that you commit to singing with Chancel on 1st Sundays and with the Men's Chorus whenever we have a 5th Sunday".

To quote the Blues Brothers....."Boys, it's time to put the band back together".

So starting in November, I'll be 1st, 4th, and 5th Sunday at Church #1 and 2nd & 3rd Sunday at Church #2.

[hands5]

For me it would depend on why I'm not playing at my current church and what the ministry is like at the church I was considering.  I couldn't play at a church where I wasn't being fed spiritually.  That would be my #1 priority.  If I loved my current church that much, it would be hard for me to go somewhere else just so that I could play.  I would probably find a group or community choir to play or something.

Of course, the first thing that I would do is pray and ask God for direction.

This the main reason why I'm not at my home church,because the music ministry truly top notch,but there's some things there that's at our church that really,really need to be address.
I'm not trying to "air out our so called "dirty laundry,but SOMETHING HAS GOT TO CHANGE !!!

[dhagler]

The music department in my church is very poorly run. Our MOM is a horrible communicator and he avoids confrontation by being a people pleaser. But I felt led to remain there because I think that's where God wants me to be. So I stay, and pray, and try to bring some semblance of order to our chaotic situation.

As for the rest of the service, our pastor is older and set in his ways. So very little will change as long as he is pastor. I don't always feel like my Spirit is being fed but my family enjoys being members there so, again, we stay and pray and try to be diligent workers within the church.

[phbrown]

stay